Sheet feeder



SHEET FEEDER Filed Dec. 1, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GJ.

45 INVENTOR I HARRY EH I BY HIS ATTO.

Jul 10, 1934.

H. EHLIG SHEET FEEDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec 1, 1931 INVENTOR HARRY EHLIG BY HIS ATTO H. EHLIG SHEET FEEDER Filed Dec.

July 10, 1934.

l, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July l0, 1934. H EHLIG 1,965,957

SHEET FEEDER Filed Dec. 1, 1951 F Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVEINTOR HARRY Huq BY HIS ATTO July 10, 1934. Ll 1,965,957

SHEET FEEDER Filed Dec. 1, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 V .mmlllllll INVEN I'OR HARRY Llq Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES SHEET FEEDER Harry Ehlig, Pearl River, N. Y., assignor -to Dexter Folder Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 1, 1931, Serial No. 578,248

26 Claims. (Cl. 271-38) My invention relates to improvements in sheet feeders. for automatically separating and ad vancing successive sheets of paper or other impression receiving material to printing, folding,

\ or ruling machines, or such other types of machines as are devised to operate thereafter on v such sheets.

The principal objects of my inventions are to provide a sheet feeder of this character having I a simplified design and which will have embodied therein separate and novel mechanisms capable of performing eflicient work, not likely to get out of order, very sensitive inaction, and all so constructed and incorporated in the feeder that it will invariably separate and feed or advance the successive sheets from a pile or bank of paper, but preferably from a fanned out bank of paper on the feed board, both automatically and with great rapidity. With these objects in view, I have devised novel front-edge sheet feeding mechanism which will separate and advance the successive sheets by means of independent sets of suction feedingoff devices combined with a plurality of indei pendently controlled cut-out fingers and co-acting suction sheet holders, each set being independently controlled and operated, so that the front margin of the advancing sheet will be momentarily held when reaching the cut-out fingers until the entire front edge of the sheet is properly a lined and straightened across the feeder, after which the cut-out fingers are raised out of-the path of the sheet and drop rollers. are lowered to convey the sheet from the feeding 5 devices to the machine or instrumentality with which my improved feeder is associated.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of novel mechanism which, in the event all of the cut-out fingers are not actuated or D tripped, acts to hold the drop rollers in raised position and prevent them from engaging the sheet, in which case such sheet will not be advanced from the feeder until the next cycle of operation thereof.

My improved sheet feeder also embodies other advantageous improvements and features of novelty through the provision of which the different operating parts are greatly simplified in form andaction, and are made more effective and otherwise better adapted for use, all of which will be hereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of my invention, applied to a continuous sheet feeder; the invention, however, is not limited to any particular type of sheet feeder, but may be embodied in various forms of feeders with similar advantages and results.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 form a comg0 posite front' elevation of my improved feeder,

looking from the right of Figs. 3, 4, and 5, certain parts being omitted for the sake of clearness; v

Fig. 3 is a side view looking from the left of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and I Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of one of th cut-out fingers.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, '7 and 8 indicate the side frames of the feeder which are supported in any suitable manner and carry between them the lower feed board 9 over which travel aseries of feed belts 10 (Figs. 3 and 4) which act to advance the fanned out bank of sheets 11 along said feed board. The belts 10 pass around drums 12 fast to a cross'shaft 13 which is journalled in the side frames 7 and 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Shaft 13 carries a ratchet wheel 14 by which the feed belts 10 are intermittently advanced over the feed board 9 to carry the banks of sheets 11 onto guide plates 15 which are mounted on a tie rod 16 that extends transversely of the feeder and is connected in any suitable manner to the side frames '7 and 8 thereof. The front margins of the sheets rest on plates 15 mounted on tie rod 16 beneath sheet separating and feeding-off devices now to be described.

In the present embodiment of the invention, these sheet separating and feeding-off devices are duplicated and disposed adjacent opposite sides of the feeder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Such devices comprise endless loop belts 17 having spaced apart perforations 18 and passing around pulleys 19, and 21, the drive pulleys 19 being fast to a cross shaft 22 journalled in the side frames 7 and.8, and the pulleys 20 and 21 being journalled on stub shafts 23 and 24 respectively which are removabl'y secured to upright plates 25 adjustably mounted on a hollow tubular shaft 26 extending transversely of the feeder and fixed in any suitable manner on the side frames '7 and 8 thereof.

The drive pulleys 19 and the belts 17 are driven in the direction of the arrows (Figs. 3 and 4) from the gear 27 which is fixed on shaft 22 at one end thereof (Fig. -2 This gear 27 is driven from a gear 28 that engages a gear 29 engaged with, and driven by, a gear 30 that is mounted on one end of a drive shaft 31 extending transversely of the feeder and journalled-in the side frames '7 and 8 thereof, (Fig. 2). The shaft 31 rotates in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 3) and is driven from any suitable source of power (not shown) by a chain 33'that passes around' a sprocket 32 fixed on said shaft. As shown inFig.

2, the shaft 22 has mounted thereon a gear 34 which engages and rotates a gear 35 fixed on and driving a main cam shaft 36 extending transversely of the feeder and journalled in bearings 37 and 38 mounted on the tops of the side frames '7 and 8 respectively (Figs. 1 and 2).

Mounted on" the shaft 31 are lower feed roll drums 39 over which are the usual drop rollers 40 carried by arms 41 that are fixed on a rock shaft 42 extending transversely of the feeder and journalled in suitable bearings on the side frames 7 and 8 thereof (Figs. 1 and 2). The front edges of the sheet comprising the bank 11, are kept separated by a blast of air from a nozzle 43 (Figs. 1 and 3) connected with the pressure side of a pump 44 by a hose 45. The pump 44 provides both air and suction for the feeder as a whole, and the front edges of the advancingsheets are directed between drums 39'and drop rollers 40, as shown in Fig. 4, by the'moving suction feed belts 17 above referred to.

Fitted to the inner sides of the perforated belts 17 along their lower runs, are hollow suction shoes 46 having the usual cross slots set in their under surfaces, which slots are adapted to register with the belt perforations 18 (Figs. 3 and 4) to pick up and advance the sheets.

stub shafts 24, and the required suction to enable the belts 17 to separate and advance the sheets, is applied to the shoes 46' through suitable hose 48 fastened to nipples 49 of said shoes and connected with suction chambers 50 as will be hereinafter described.

The detector mechanism controlling the action of the bank feed independently of action of the suction loop belts 17 in feeding the sheets from the bank 11, is substantially similar to that shown in my Letters Patent Nos. 1,535,215 and 1,535,217 granted April 28, 1925. Said mechanism, best shown in Figs. 1-5, comprises a detector finger 51 adjustably secured in a collar 52 mounted on a rock shaft 53. This rock shaft extends transversely of the feeder and is pivoted on pins 54 and 55 secured to side frames 7 and 8 respectively. Rock shaft 53 is spring urged to rotatein a clock-wise direction (Fig. 5) as'the pressure of the sheets on finger 51 decreases due to removal of the sheets from the bank 11.

The rock shaft 53 carries an arm 56 engaged under a head 56 'of a rod 57 mounted at .57 on a latch arm 58. This latch arm is pivoted on a bracket 59 extending from the side frame 8. Beneath the under portion of latch arm 58 is a longitudinally moving slide bar 60 resting on a flanged roller 61 journalled on a stub shaft 62 on frame 8, the forward end of slide bar 60 having a notched shoulder 63 with which the tip of the latch arm 58 engages when the latter is in its lower latched position (Figs. 3 and 5) to hold the bar 60against movement. The bar 60 is piv- 'oted at the rear thereof to the lower arm 64 of a bell crank lever 65 rotatably mounted on the shaft 13. The arm 66 of bell crank lever 65 carries a pawl 67 which co-acts with the bank feed ratchet wheel 14, and the arm 68 of said bell crank lever carries a cam roller 69 that engages a cam 70 secured to the hub 71 of a gear 72 that is journalled on the tubular shaft 26 (Figs. 2 and 5).

The gear 72 meshes with a gear 73 that is secured to the belt pulley drive shaft 22.

A pull spring 74 connects the forward end of slide bar- 60 wltha pin 75- on side frame 8, and

' a'pull spring 76 connects the arm 64 with said pin. When the detector finger 51 is swimg rear- The. shoes 46 are carried by arms 47 mounted on the Losses? wardly by diminishing pressure of the sheets, as disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,535,215 and 1,535,217, the latch arm 58 is lifted from engagement with the shoulder 63 of slide bar 60. The cam roller 69, maintained in engagement with cam 70 by the spring 76, enters the drop of cam 70 when slide bar 60 is released (Fig. 5) and the pawl 67 is simultaneously drawn back. over the ratchet wheel 14 through clockwise movement of lever 65 (Fig. 5). When the lever 65 is rocked in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 5) through engagement of roller 69 by the high part of cam 70, the ratchet wheel 14, through the action of pawl 67 thereon, will advance the feed belts 10 to forward the bank of sheets 11. When latch arm 58 holds slide bar 60 so as to prevent horizontal movement thereof, cam roller 69 engages only the high part of cam 70 and the bank feeding mechanism-is held against operation, as described in my two patents above referred to.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, suction is intermittently created in the hose connections 48, the suction chambers 50, and the suction shoes 46, to advance the sheets, and this is preferably accomplished by mechanism constructed and operated as follows. Fitted against the outer sides of boxes in which are formed the chambers 50, are valves 77 mounted on the arms 78 of rock levers 79 pivoted, as by studs 80 (Figs. 3 and 5), on the side frames 7 and 8. These valves 77 are adapted to slide back and forth to open and close slotted ports 81 of suction chambers 50 and slotted ports 82 of adjoining suction chambers 83 which are also formed in said boxes. The boxes containing the suction chambers 50 and 83 are secured in any suitable manner to the side frames 7 and 8, and

the valves 77 are fitted on the outer faces of said boxes to slide over the ports 81 and 82 formed therein. and communicating with the suction chambers 50 and 83, respectively. The upper ends of the lever arms 78 carry rollers 84 that engage the lower ends of spring pressed cam levers 85 pivoted on stub shafts 86 extending from the side frames 7 and 8. The levers 85 are provided on the upper ends thereof with rollers 87 adapted for engagement with earns 38 on pins 90 pivoted to the levers 79.. When the lower ends of levers 85 are swung to the left (Figs. 3 and 5) arms 78 are likewise swung to the left by said levers and recngaged by the latches -122, the springs 88 and 89 at this time being compressed.

The valves '77 are connected by the hose 91 with nipples 92 on the hollow suction shaft 26. The shaft 26, in turn, is connected by a hose 93 with the suction side of pump 44 as indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. lever arm 78, as before described, results in like movement of the valves 77, and it will thus appear that suction is alternately created in the suction chambers 50 and 83 as the ports 81 and 82 there- Shifting movement of the' of are opened or closed by saidv valves through ed adjacent the belts 17 and best shown in Figs.

l-, 2 and 4. These tubes 94 carry the usual rubber sucker lips 95 on their lower ends, and are adjustably mounted in brackets 96 carried on bars 97 adjustably secured to supports 98 on shaft 26. The suction tubes 94, through the adjustable mountings therefor, may be set inany position best suited to hold the front margins of the sheets advanced by the suction feed belts 17. The upper ends of the tubes 94 are connected by hose 99 to nipples 100 of the suction chambers 83. By the valves 77, the hose connections 91, 48, 99, and the suction chambers 50, 83, suction may be broken in shoes 46 and created in sheet holders 94, and viceversa, according to the shifting movement of valves 77 over ports 81 and 82.

As herein disclosed, a plurality of sets of sheet feeding and holding devices are employed, each set comprising a'belt 17, shoe 46-, and sheet holder 94, and in accordance with the present invention, sheet controlled means are provided for said sets of devices, preferably in the form ofcut-out fingers 101, one for each set of sheet feeding and holding devices. .These cut-out fingers 101 are preferably mounted, as ,by screws 103, 104, on brackets 102, and said fingers may be adjusted by screws 105 on said brackets. The brackets 102 are fixed on alined hollow shafts 106 journalled in the side frames '7 and 8 and in a bracket. 142 hereinafter referred to. The lower ends of fingers 101 normally depend vertically and are normally disposed slightly to'the rear of the bites of the rollers 39 and 40, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings; Secured to the shafts 106 are rock arms 107 which engage springs 108 mounted on rods 109 and having" opposite ends bearing against said rock arms and adjusting collars 110 secured on the upper ends of said rods. The rods 109 pass through arms 107 and the lower ends of said rods are provided therebelow with collars 110. The lower ends of rods 109 are pivotally connected with pawls 111 mounted forv pivotal movement on pins 112 secured to the side frames 7 and 8. The pawls 111 are arrangedto engage the teeth of ratchet segments 113 pivoted on levers 114 mounted for rocking movement on pins 115 fixed to the side frames 7 and 8.-

The arms of segments 113 are connected by links 116 with the lower ends of cam levers 117 journalled on the stub shafts 86 and provided with cam rollers 118. The cam rollers 118 are maintained in engagement with cams 119 on the outer ends of, cam shaft 36., through the pull of springs 119 the opposite ends of which'are secured to said levers and the side frames 7 and 8, respectively. When the fingerslfll areactuated, the pawls lll'engage the teeth of segments 113 so that oscillating movement of said segments is terminated and they are forced down with the levers 114 until the latter engage stops 120. The stops 120 are secured to the side frames 7 and 8,

and in the event neither, or only one of, the

fingers 101 are actuated, oscillating movement of the corresponding segment or segments 113 will continue until such time as the corresponding finger or fingers 101 are actuated.

Beneath the lower edges of segments 113 are rollers 121 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) journalled on the butt ends of overweighted latches 122 that are pivoted on the side frames 7and 8 and have to the right (Fig. 3) to break suction in the shoes' 46 and'create suction in the sheet holders 94. When the lever arms .78 and valves 77 are moved to the left (Fig. 3), as before described, latches 122 engage said lever arms and hold them until segments 113 are again depressed through operation of the fingers 101. Ifthe fingers 101 are actuated at different times, latches 122 will be disengaged from lever arms 78 at different times, thereby controlling suction in shoes 46 and holders 94 until the sheet is straightened up by, one orthe other of feed belts 17 so that the leading edge of said sheet is engaged with and actuates both fingers 101. After straightening of the sheet in this manner, it is fedforwardly by the feed drums 39 and drop rollers 40 and the-pawls 111 are disengaged from segments 113; all as hereinafter described. Upon disengagement of pawls 111 from segments 113, the latter-and the levers 114 are lever 127 carries a-cam roller 128 that is engaged with a cam 129 on camshaft 36 through the action of a spring 130. Lever 127 is thus cam operated in one direction and spring operated in the opposite direction so that valve 126 opens'and closes port 125 at predetermined intervals. When it is desired to throw the feeder out of operation, valve 126 is prevented from closing port 125 For this purpose, the .upper end of rock lever 127 is provided with a notched end 131 which may be releasably engaged by-a manually controlled fastened on a standard 134 on top of the side frame 7. Mounted onshaft 133 is a hand lever 185 having a depending arm 135. .The latch 132 is connected with arm 135 by spring 136, and the lever 135 may be moved directly, or by the, rod

136, to the right (Fig. 3) to engage latch 132 with latch 131 of lever 127 and thus throw the feeder out of operation. -When it is desired to 'raised through the actionpf springs 124 mounted latch 132 pivotally mountedon a short shaft 133 fingers 101, also carry latch plates 137 that are i to be engaged by a-notched bar 138 on adapted of a cam operated lever 139 the hub 140 the fork of which is journalled on a stub shaft 141 secured to a vertical plate 142 fastened on the tubular shaft 26. The lever 139 carries-a cam roller 143 engaged by a cam 144 adjustably secured to the cam shaft:36. A'spring 145 is connected with the lever 139, and when the latch plates 137 are removed from the path of travel plates 137 to remove fingers 101 from the pathv The lever 139 is provided with a pin 149 which extends under the lever 146 (Figs. 3 and 4). The pin 149 prevents downward movement of lever 146 and drop rollers 40 until latch plates 137 are operated and lever 139 lowers to the limit of its downward movement. At this time, aspring 149 connected with lever 146 causes roller 147 to follow the low part of cam 148 so that lever 146 and drop rollers 40 are lowered. It will thus appear that the lever 146 is cam operated in one direction and spring operated in the opposite direction to raise and lower drop rollers 40, the connections between said lever and said rollers comprising a link 150 pivoted to an arm 151 secured on a rock shaft 42 carrying the arms 41 .on which the drop rollers 40 are journalled. .The

rock shaft 2 extends transversely of the feeder adjacent the feed drums 39 and is journalled in suitable hearings on the side frames 7 and 8. The tubular shafts 106 carry arms 152 having adjusting screws 153 at outer ends which are adapted to bear on pins 154 to determine the proper position of the cut-out fingers 101 and the latch plates 137 for tripping thereof by the front edges of the sheets. The pins 154 are mounted on plate 142, and springs 155 normally hold the screws 153 against said pins.

.In accordance with the present invention, the drop rollers 40 will not be lowered on the sheet unless the sheet has moved both of the cut-out fingers 101 that control-the latch plates 137. When both fingers'lOl are tripped, the plates 137 will be moved out of register with the notched bar 138, and levers 139 and 146 will operate downwardly so as to allow'the rollers 40 to lower and press the sheet against the feed roller drums 39. As the lever 139 lowers to the limit of its downward movement, the fingers 101 are raised from the path of travel of the sheet, by the bar 138 whichpresses the latch plates 137 rearwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

However, if neither, or only one, of the cut-out fingers 101 is tripped, one or both of the latch plates 137 will register with the notched bar 138 and so prevent lever 139, lever 146, and the drop rollers 40 from lowering, in which event the sheet will not be advanced from the feeder until the next cycle of operation thereof. By manipulating the adjusting screws'105, a very fine adjustment may be obtained for positioning of the fingers 101 relatively to the sheet feeding devices.

' The.- operation of the improved feeder will be readily understood from the foregoing, and may ,be briefly summarized as follows: When the feeder is started, the bank of sheets 11 is advanced beneath the feeding-off devices, the forward movement-of said bank being controlled by the ,d ete ctor finger 51 as hereinbefore described.

The port 125 which is normally open to atmosphere is, atthe proper time, closed by the valve 126 through the action of the cam 129. At this time, valves 77 are positioned over ports 81 of suction chambers 50. and suction is created through hose connections 48 in suction shoes 46 so that the latter actthrough the perforated belts 17 to pick up the top sheet from the bank 11 and convey it forwardly. Assuming that the topmost sheet is straight and its leading edge is parallel with the cut-out fingers 101, further forward movement of the sheet will engage its leading edge with, and simultaneously swing, the

fingers 101 forwardly, thus rocking both shafts vers 114 engage stops 120. When the segments 113 are thus forced downwardly, rollers 121 are also forced downwardly, thus raising latches 122 out of engagement with lever arms 78 which are then operated, as before described, to shift valves 77 from their positions over slots 81, shown in Figs. 3 and5, to positions over the slots 82 that are connected with the suction chambers 83.

This shifting movement of the valves 77 breaks the suction in shoes 46 and creates suction in sheet holders 94. and the latter immediately grip the sheet and prevent furthefadvancement thereof until suction is broken in said holders and the drop rollers 40 are lowered. The sheet having engaged both fingers 101, the port 125 is thereafter opened so as to break suction in the sheet holders 94. Concurrently with engagement ofboth fingers 101 by the sheet, both latches 137 are removed from the path of travel of the bar 138. Levers 139 and 146 are thus permitted to lower so that the drop rollers 40 receive like motion and act, in conjunction with the feed roller drums 39, to convey the sheet out of the feeder to the machine to which it is attached. Thereafter the parts return to the full line positions thereof shown in the drawings, whereupon the operation is repeated as before described.

In the event the front edge of a sheet advanced by the bank advancing mechanism is out of alinement or not parallel with fingers 101, one side of the sheet will engage one finger 101 thereby breaking suction in the corresponding belt 17 and creating suction in the corresponding holder 94 which thus grips that side of the sheet and prevents further advance thereof. The other side of the sheet continues to advance to advance through the action of the other belt 17 until said side contacts the corresponding finger 101 at which time the sheet is straightened and suction is broken in the last named belt andcreated in the corresponding holder 94 so that .held by the adjacent sheet holder 94 until the opposite side reaches and is gripped by the other sheet holder. The cut-out fingers 101, as hereinbefore pointed out, directly control the latch plates 137 which, until the sheet engages said .fingers, register with the notched bar 138 on fork lever 139 that controlsdrop roller operating lever 146. It will thus appearthat the sheet will not be advanced fromlthe feeder until both cut-out fingers 101 have been tripped. If, howeven-neither or only one of, thefinge'rs 101 are tripped by the sheet, the-latch plate or plates 137 will still register with the notched bar 138 and so prevent the drop rollers 40- from lowering into cooperative relation with the sheet and the feed roll drums 39.

applied to a sheet feeder of the continuous type, but the invention may be applied to various other types of feeders with similar results and advantages, and various changes or modifications may be made in the structural details without departing from the scope of my improvements. It is therefore to be expressly understood that while one embodiment of my invention is disclosed herein with more or less particularity, the invention is not limited to said embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a continuous sheet feeder, a suction feed member for picking up and advancing the top sheet from a fanned-out bank, a suction sheet holding member under which the raised front margin of the top sheet is-advanced by the feed member, and means for breaking suction in the feed member and creating suction in the holding member to grip said margin of the sheet and temporarily stop and support said sheet from the top thereof. l

2. In a continuous sheet feeder, a suction feed member for picking up and advancing the raised front margin of the top sheet from a fanned-out bank, a suction sheet holding member under which the raised front margin of the top sheet is fed by the feed member, and means, including a member actuated by each sheet, for breaking suction in the feed member and creating suction in the holding member to grip said margin of the sheet and temporarily stop and support said sheet from the top thereof. 3. In a continuous sheet feeder, a suction feed member for picking up and advancing sheets successively fromthe top of a fanned-out bank, a suction sheet holding member under which the sheets are advanced one after another by the feed member, and means, including a member actuated by each sheet, for breaking suction in the feed member and creating suction in the holdingmembar at predetermined intervals to grip the-raised front margin of each sheet and temporarily stop and support it from the top thereof.

4. In a continuous sheet feeder, a suction feed member for picking up and advancing sheets successively from the top of a supply thereof, a stationary tubular sheet holding member under which the raised front margins of the sheets are advanced one after another by the feed member, and means for breaking suction in the feed memher and creating suction in the holding member at predetermined intervals to grip the raised front margin of each sheet and temporarily stop and support it from the top thereof.

5. In a sheet feeder, a moving suction feed belt for picking up and advancing sheets successively, a suction holder under which the lifted sheets are advanced one after another by the belt, and means for applyingsuction through the belt and the holder alternately whereby each sheet picked up and advanced by said belt is gripped on said holder and temporarily stopped and held in raised position thereby from'the top of said-sheet.

6. In a sheet feeder, a moving suction feed belt for picking up and advancing successive sheets,

' a suction holder under which said sheets are advanced one after another by the belt, and sheet qcontrolled means for applying suction through the belt and me, holder alternately, whereby each sheet picked up and advanced by said belt is for picking up and advancing gripped on the superposed holder and temporarily stopped and supported thereby from the top of said sheet.

7. In a sheet feeder, a plurality of suction feed members for picking up and advancing a sheet, a plurality of suction holders under which the lifted sheet is advanced by the feed members and gripped on and supported by said holders from the top of said sheet, and a plurality of means for applying suction through the feed members and holders alternately and independently of each other, whereby the sheet may be picked up and advanced as aforesaid and then gripped and supported until its front edge is properly positioned transversely of said feeder.

8. In a sheet feeder, a plurality of suction feed members for picking up and advancing sheets successively, a plurality of suction sheet holders under which the lifted sheets are advanced one after another by the feed members and successively gripped on and supported by said sheet holders from the upper surfaces of said sheets, and a plurality of sheet controlled means for independently applying suction'through the feed members and the holders alternately, whereby 100 each sheet may be picked up and advanced as aforesaid and then gripped and supported until its front edge is properly positioned transversely of said feeder.

9. In a sheet feeder, a suction feed member for picking up and advancing sheets successively, a suction holder under which the lifted sheets are-- advanced one after another by the feed member and successively gripped on and supported by said sheet holders from the upper surfaces of said sheets, means for applying suction through the feed member and the holder alternately, a sheet actuated trip controlling said means, and means for conveying the sheet successively from the holder and moving the trip from the path of each sheet.

10. In a sheet feeder, a suction feed member sheets successively,

a stationary suction holder under which the lifted sheets are advanced one after another by the feed member and successively gripped on and supported in raised positions by said holder from the .upper surfaces of said sheets, sheet controlled means for breaking suction in the feed member and creating suction in the holder, and means for thereafter creating suction in said feed member for the next cycle of operation of the feeder.

11. In a sheet feeder, a suction feed member for picking up and advancing sheets successively,

a stationary suction holder under which the lifted sheets are advanced one after another by the feed member and successively gripped on and supported by said holder from the upper surfaces of said sheets, sheet controlled means for breaking suction in the feed member and creating suction 5 in the holder, and means for creating suction in said feed member and breaking suction in said. holder.

. 12. In a sheet feeder, a'plurality of suction feed members for advancing sheets successively, a plurality of suction holders for sheets advanced one after another by the feed members, means for applying suction through the feed members and the holders alternately and independently of each other, means for conveying each sheet from the 4 have been actuated by the sheet.

13. In a sheet-feeder, a pair of suction feed members for advancing the successive sheets, a pair of suction sheet holders adapted to hold a single advanced sheet, means for conveying the sheet from said holders, and a pair of separate tr'ipsactuated by the" leading edge of the sheet for bringing said sheet-conveying means into operation only when both trips have been actuated by the sheet.

14. In a sheet-feeder, a pair of suction feed members for advancing the successive sheets, a

pair of suction sheet holders adapted to hold a single advanced sheet, means for conveying the sheet from said holders and normally held in inoperative position, and separate sheet-controlled means for bringing said sheet-conveying means into operation only when each of said sheet-controlled means has been actuated by the sheet.

15. In a sheet feeder, a pair of suction feed members for advancing the successive sheets, a pair of suction sheet holders adapted to hold a single advanced sheet, means'for conveying the sheet from said holders and normally held in inoperative position, and separate trips actuated by the leading edge of thesheet for bringing said sheet-conveying means into operation only when each of said trips has been actuated by the sheet.

16. In a sheet-feeder, a moving suction feedbelt for advancing successive sheets, means for intermittently applying suction therethrough, a suction sheet holder adapted to hold a single advanced sheet, latch-controlled means for shifting the suction from said belt to. said sheet holder,

, and a cut-out finger actuated by the advanced sheet to release said latch-controlled means.

17. In a sheet-feeder, a pair of spaced-apart moving suction feed-belts for advancing successive sheets and each having separate means for applying suction therethrough, a pair of suction sheet holders one for each feed-belt and adapted to hold a single advanced sheet, a pair of separate cut-out fingers each controlling the suction for one feed-belt and its sheet-holder, sheetconveying means for forwarding the sheet from said holders and'normally heldin inoperative position, and means for holding the sheet-conveying means out of operation until both of said cut-out fingers have been actuated by the advanced sheet.

18. In a sheet-feeder, av pair of spaced-apart moving suction feed-belts for advancing successive sheets and each having separate means for applying suction therethrough, a pair of suction sheet holders one for each feed-belt and adapted to hold a single advanced sheet, a pair of sep-' arate cut-out fingers independently shifting the suction from each feed-belt to its sheet-holder,

sheet conveying means for forwarding the sheet from said holders and normally held in inoperative position, and means for holding the sheetconveying means out of operation until both of said cut-out fingers have been actuated by the advanced sheet.

19. In a sheet feeder, a sheet feeding device, a suction holder under which the front margins of sheets are fed one after another by the sheet feeding device and successively gripped by and supported from said holder, means for alternating the feeding and suction holding actions of said device and said holder respectively, and means' actuated by the front margin of each fed sheet for controlling the action of said first-named means. A"

20. In a sheet feeder, a sheet feeding device, a suction holder under which sheets are fed one after another by the sheet feeding device and successively stopped by and suspended from said holder, and sheet controlled means for alternating the feeding and suction holding actions of said device and said holder respectively.

21. In a sheet feeder, sheet lifting and feeding means, suction sheet holding means under which lifted sheets are advanced one after another by the sheet feeding means, and means for alternating the respective actions of the first named means and the suction sheet holding means to advance each sheet by said lifting and feeding means and then temporarily grip, stop and suspend said sheet by said holding means.

22. In a sheet feeder, a plurality of mechanisms arranged in sets, each set comprising a sheet lifting and feeding device and a suction sheet holding device under which the lifted sheet is fed by said first named device so as to be gripped ,on and supported from said holding device, and means for alternating the feeding and suction holding actions of said sets independently of each other whereby the sheet may be lifted and 1 fed as aforesaid and then held until its leading edge is properly positioned transversely of said feeder.

23. In a sheet feeder, a plurality of devices arranged in sets, each set comprising a sheet lifting and feeding member and a suction sheet holding member under which the lifted sheet is fed by said first named member so as to be gripped on and supported from said holding member, and sheet controlled means for alternating the feeding and suction holding actions of said sets independently of each other whereby the sheet-[may be lifted and fed as aforesaid and then held tuntil its leading edge is properly positioned transversely of said feeder.

24. In a sheet feeder, a plurality of devices arranged in spaced-apart sets, each set comprising a sheet lifting and feeding member and a suction sheet holding member under which the lifted sheet is fed by said first named member so as to be gripped on and supported from said holding member, and means for alternating the feeding and suction sheet holding actions of the sets independently of each other, said means including a plurality of separate sheet-controlled mechanisms one for each of said seats and enabling the sheet to be lifted and fed as aforesaid and then held until its leading edge is properly positioned transversely of said feeder.

' 25. In a sheet feeder, means for picking up and feeding successive sheets, suction means under which the front marginsof said sheets are fed one after another by said feeding means, and mechanism for alternating the actions of the two the actions of the two means respectively, whereby the first-named means may lift and feed each sheet singly and'the latter may be gripped on and temporarily stopped and supported by said suction sheet holding means from the top of said sheet,

HARRY EI-ILIG. 

